2023 Field of Mars Semillon B2

Single Vineyard Range

2024 Latara Vineyard Semillon

Variety:      100% Semillon 

Vineyard:    Keith Tulloch Latara Vineyard

Region:       Pokolbin, Hunter Valley

Vine age:    Vines planted in 1978

Tasting Notes

The Latara Vineyard is 4.5kms from the cellar door on the corner of Deasys & McDonalds Roads in Central Pokolbin, planted in 1978. This vineyard is owned by Keith, Amanda and family operated by Keith Tulloch Wine. Whilst many Hunter Valley Semillon vineyards are established on light sandy alluvial soils, this vineyard sits on dark cracking clay soils with a gentle East-West aspect. These soils make a powerful Semillon expression with body and frame that is more luscious and approachable, particularly as a young wine.

Richer, rounder Semillon aromas of lisbon-lemon and kafir lime-leaf are dominant at first, settling with air to allow the finer and sweeter signatures of meyer lemon and green-to-orange mandarin.

Flavours are exotic too, with layers of yellow and green citrus fruit giving mouth-filling tangy energy, with a classic hint of pithy dryness at the finish.

Uber-juicy and gentle, this is a delicious and opulent Semillon for immediate enjoyment but will cellar effortlessly for a decade for the patient.

93 points Halliday Wine Companion     93 points The Real Review

Drink: Now - 2036. 
120 dozen made.

Technical Data

Alc         11.2%
pH           3.01
TA            6.6

FIELD OF MARS - Single Vineyard Range

Field of Mars Block 4 Chardonnay 2023

Variety:   100% Chardonnay

Region:     Pokolbin, Hunter Valley

Vineyard:  Field of Mars Vineyard

Vine Age:  Vines planted in 2014

Soils:        Fine, sandy alluvial

Tasting Note 

In 2014 we established this Block 4 on a tiny patch of fine alluvial sand, planting Chardonnay Clone 548 on rootstock Paulson 1103. The vines are close planted to twice the normal vine number per hectare, so this vineyard is ultra-low yielding and produces high-quality wines that are powerful and complex.

The aromatic layered fruit spectrum runs from golden to white peach, honey-nectarine, and tangy pineapple with whisps of orange musk-melon giving a deeper and sweeter bouquet.

Soft leesy notes of creamy lemon-yogurt combine with fine barrel perfumes of cashew-nut. Fine sulphite-perfumes of gun flint and oyster shell amplify with breathing, combining to deliver a powerful yet refined fragrance.

The striking feature of this wine is the elaborate palate expression, concentration, complexity and superb length. Juicy golden orchard stone-fruits, nectarine and peach with glossy textures, musk melon and candied citrus combine to add a classy flavour softness and richness. As with the bouquet, reductive-accents of pistachio nougat take on extra savoury hints of sea-shell. The satin-soft mouthfeel is completed with fine French oak, cradling the opulent fruit core. A vibrant line of acidity keeps everything steady and fresh, guiding this wine for a long future, with ideal cellaring of 5 to 7 years.

Drink: now –  2033

95pts The Real Review
97 pts Halliday Wine Companion.... ‘Fabulous depth, marvellous texture, and a finish that is expansive, persistent and memorable’.

Single Vineyard Range

2023 Tawarri Vineyard Shiraz

Variety:     100% Shiraz

Region:     Upper Hunter Valley

Vineyard:  Tawarri Vineyard 

Tasting Note

A unique vineyard in the Hunter Valley at 460m above sea level, with fertile black earth soils and rich basalt, characterised by cool Summer nights and even a dusting of snow through the Winter months. The Shiraz vines are 28 years old producing fruit with ripe black flavours of impressive density.
A twinning of black and red fruits delivers aromas of lush blackberry with flashes of plum and raspberry. The cooler climate fresh eucalyptus and wild bramble notes of mint leaf and fresh aniseed add to the perfumed core of opulent black fruits.
The same concentration rules the palate from start to a very long finish: supple and velvety, energetic and fresh, with a combination of power and elegance. The abundant black fruits anchor the palate, blackberry and licorice, with a finer tannin foundation already satin soft and supple yet beautifully nuanced from 12 months in a large format French oak barrel, accenting notes of vanilla and cinnamon.

I recommend decanting, particularly until the 5th year in bottle, to amplify the Tawarri-site accents to their max.

Halliday Wine Companion 95 points

Drink: Now – 2035

Limited Edition – only 193 dozen made

Technical Data

Alcohol: 13.5%

pH: 3.5

TA: 6.3

The Family Collection

2023 The Kester Shiraz

Variety:     Shiraz (99%) Viognier (1%)
Region:     Hunter Valley

Tasting Notes

Dense crimson purple in colour.

Opening with bright aromas similar to the beautiful 2022 Kester, albeit with riper-black fruit density and depth. A shape-shifting bouquet that glides from fresh raspberry and plum through to black-cherry and cola, with brushstrokes of fresh herb. Aromas deepen to include fuller scents of black-liquorice and anise, with finer hints of cranberry. French oak sits quietly in the background giving ever-present subtle notes of sandalwood, cinnamon, and chamomile.

Black fruits dominate the palate, red-fruit energy contributes a bright lift and length with notes of pomegranate and sweet red-currant. Cola sits centrally with a glossy inky richness and fine depth, broadening to accents of black olive tapenade and aniseed. Already delivering a wonderfully integrated harmony of fruit and barrel, with interwoven characters of berry, spice and herb. Dark chocolate tannins underpin the ripe fruits with a lovely foundation, subtle hints of graphite and an elegant dryness like liquorice-dust, finishing with an espresso-like creaminess.

The Kester is very drinkable and enjoyable young, yet this wine always holds remarkably well in the cellar and improves greatly with age. My recommendation is to decant if drinking before 2030, or drink and enjoy anytime without the need to decant through to 2040.

Drink: Now to 2040+

Halliday Wine Companion 96 points

Technical Data

Alcohol: 13.9%
pH: 3.52